Sublethal effects of plant essential oils toward the zoophytophagous mirid Nesidiocoris tenuis

Abstract Zoophytophagous hemipteran predators provide relevant biological control services and their applications are consolidated in greenhouse pest management. The use of plant essential oils (EOs) for sustainable crop protection is being currently promoted. However, further knowledge the potential side effects EOs on predatory mirids (Hemiptera: Miridae) required. Here, we evaluated non-target impact four (anise, fennel, garlic lavender) generalist predator Nesidiocoris tenuis (Reuter) laboratory. baseline toxicity was firstly assessed N. adults following topical contact exposure. Then, reproduction orientation behavior tested exposure to three estimated EO lethal concentrations (LC 1 , LC 10 30 ). Garlic had lowest LCs (e.g., 1.34 mg mL −1 ), thus most toxic compound among EOs. s lavender, anise fennel were 2.75, 4.55 5.17 respectively. fertility females negatively affected by all at highest concentration. Nevertheless, caused no sublethal . Our findings suggest that careful attention should be given when used combination with management programs.